In an unprecedented push to bring order to its chaotic roads, Punjab has witnessed a sweeping surge in traffic enforcement, leading to a dramatic rise in penalties for overspeeding and drunk driving. Over the past five months, the state has recorded a five-fold increase in fines for speeding violations and an astounding 430% spike in penalties for driving under the influence. The figures, released by the Punjab Traffic Police and corroborated by district-level enforcement records, indicate a deliberate shift in the administration’s approach to road safety—from reactive policing to proactive, technology-driven deterrence.
The change is visible not just in the numbers but on the streets themselves. Speed guns, breathalyzers, body-worn cameras, and CCTV surveillance are now standard tools in the arsenal of traffic enforcement officers. Strategic locations across cities and highways have been mapped as enforcement zones, with live monitoring and real-time data collection enabling faster issuance of challans and escalation of repeat offenders. Senior officials from the Punjab Police say that this renewed focus is part of a long-term campaign to curb the rising tide of road accidents and restore public accountability behind the wheel.
According to traffic data, thousands of speeding tickets have been issued in districts such as Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, and Amritsar—urban centres that have long been plagued by unregulated driving and a culture of impunity. Meanwhile, smaller towns and highway stretches notorious for accidents are now seeing 24×7 patrols, with a zero-tolerance policy toward violations. Roadside sobriety checkpoints have become routine during weekends and late-night hours, targeting a demographic previously untouched by traditional traffic policing.
What makes this campaign different from earlier efforts is its integration with digital infrastructure. The state has upgraded its e-challan system, allowing penalties to be auto-generated through AI-assisted image capture and licence plate recognition. This has dramatically increased efficiency and limited the scope for bribery or manipulation. Citizens now receive challans via SMS, with options to pay online—streamlining both compliance and data collection. The result is a surge in fine recovery rates and a corresponding drop in the number of habitual offenders.
Punjab’s Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, remarked that traffic indiscipline has historically been a silent killer, responsible for hundreds of avoidable deaths each year. “We are not just enforcing the law; we are changing mindsets,” he said in a recent press briefing. He pointed to international studies that show how consistent enforcement leads to behaviour change, particularly among younger drivers who are often influenced more by consequences than by rules. The government’s current strategy, he explained, is aimed at building that culture of responsibility through a mix of law, technology, and public outreach.
The numbers speak volumes. In just 150 days, drunk driving challans have jumped by 430%—a figure that officials attribute to both increased detection and a shrinking tolerance among enforcement teams. Moreover, several high-profile public figures have been penalised under the same rules, sending a clear message that traffic discipline will no longer be dictated by status or privilege. Breath analyzer data is being stored and cross-referenced to ensure that violators caught more than once are dealt with through stricter legal action, including license suspension or referral to court-mandated rehabilitation programs.
Public response to this campaign has been mixed. While many citizens, especially families and regular commuters, have welcomed the crackdown as a much-needed intervention, others have raised concerns over alleged over-policing and lack of awareness campaigns to complement the penalties. In response, the traffic police have begun community outreach programs in schools, colleges, and workplaces, emphasising the importance of road safety and clarifying the legal repercussions of violations. Several highway signage boards have been upgraded with real-time speed data and accident alerts, making Punjab’s roads more interactive and informative.
With road accidents ranking among the top five causes of unnatural death in the state, the stakes are high. Officials say the current campaign is only the beginning, with plans underway to integrate insurance checks, vehicle fitness audits, and helmet compliance into the real-time enforcement network. If these steps continue with the current intensity and public support grows, Punjab may well set a new national benchmark in road safety.
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